Tererai Karimakwenda writes in allAfrica.com on the decision of Zimbabwe’s Supreme Court concerning the dispute over The Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA) properties with ex-communicated Anglican Bishop Nolbert Kunonga:
The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed five appeals that had been lodged by the Kunonga faction, as well as two others launched by his Manicaland counterpart and supporter, Bishop Elson Jakazi.
The appeals were struck off the court’s register after Kunonga’s lawyers made a u-turn and claimed he was still the CPCA’s legitimate Bishop of Harare. This is despite the fact that Kunonga formed his own Church Province of Zimbabwe and appointed himself Bishop of Harare.
Judgement was reserved by Chief Justice Luke Malaba in two other cases, where Harare Bishop Chad Gandiya and the CPCA are seeking to overturn a High Court decision that granted Kunonga and six others, custodial rights to CPCA property in the Harare diocese. The three judges are also due to decide who is the legitimate Bishop of Harare and chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Known as “Mugabe’s Bishop”, Kunonga had used the High Court ruling to illegally take over Church property in provinces outside Harare. His loyalty to ZANU PF has ensured support from the police and party thugs, who have been harassing CPCA parishioners and evicting their staff from church properties.